New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-10
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BUFFALO, May 9.-Charles B. Matthews. the Wyoming
farmer who sought to become oil magnate the
witness stand nearly all day in the Court OF Oyer and
Terminer Nr. Matthews subjected to searching
cross-examination, but he behaved with great
The defendants, Messrs Rogers, Archbold. McGregor
and Everest, seemed enjoy the proceedings partic
uary when the president of the rival company gave
his reason for believing Mr. Archbold to he Standard
man. the fact that he the NewYorker on
the Atlas refining grounds. There has been
no evidence so far connecting Mr.. McGregor
with the and little evidence Identifying the other
two NewYorkers with it. That they all stockholders
In the Vacuum Company is conceded, of course.
When the DstrctAttorncy continued the direct exam
inaton Of Mr. Matthews tho latter said that the Buffalo
company sued on the Ewing patent, which had pre-
viously been pronounced worthless.
"What did that patent covert" Objected to because
bill in equity in the United States Court did not describe
the patent
L" It might be for a engine mouse-trap' said
Mr. COggswell
The bill asked that injunction be issued restraining
the Buffalo Company from manufacturing oil under this
process Mr. Matthews gave a description Of oil fires
which he said were difficult TO extngush. The
gases eliminated from heated petroleum" were
dangerous and nhammable, he said. He re-
lated various conversations which he had
with the defendants they not OF much import
ance. Mr.. Bacon then cross-examined the witness.
Q-YOu may state what the enect 49, IL you know, or
fire in petroleum stored in quantities Al nave seen
several men burned to death
sye. after becomes heated to certain degree Alt
Is highly explosive.
establishing business In competition with your employer,
using its process copying s apparatus and employing
Q.-Yon do not mean to say you have not done that
A.-When you say its processes, that is question of
ownership.
The question was changed so to make It read,
Using the processes which 1t used" and Mr. Matthews
said that he did not know The idea suggested by
scott Wilson In the fall OF 1881.
Q-what did you do with the oil you made during the
first six months A-Sold IL at what we could.
Q-Was 1t understandable oil A.-No, sir; not alto
Q|ihen why did you say upon your direct eIamlna-
ton that IL was a year more before you made
chantable oil A-Because there is degree OF value In
QNOw you say it was not year or more but that all
the oil you made merchantsble ! A.-Yes sir.
9Da Ts 20" represent 1t as oil
simply unme chantable oil Al guess that is So
Q-Ihen IL was not year before you made merchant
able oil Ave sold the oil We made.
This was followed by considerable further question
ing and the witness became confused. After
tho Buffalo Company stopped buying Of
the Atlas Company, Mr. Matthews bought 1t in
the omen market It was shipped In tank
ua JaS Sor Fan about SS 900 barrels OF crude In
1883 quantity about 10000 barrels because the
less In 1885 the crude oil about 10000 bar
rels the witness positive that 1t did not fall
MIR Matthews was examined at some length regarding
the explosive character OF the oils An effort made
TO show that steam was as explosive as yapors or
petroleum The witness was sure tho latter would
plode under proper pressure but water vapors were
they were contained. He did not consider
ploslvc II water was put In tank and heat applied, it
The capital stock OF Buffalo Company lately in
creased irS fsoOVo ~ w Mr. RoD.rs once at Pratt 4
Rogers office in New-York, where he supposed the
o"pd Won not say to Wilson and Miller that II you
started this concern the Standard OH Company would
Odd you not say that We must make good showing
and the 5 STANDARD VIII oay us out Wa cam so s To- the
of the Vacuum oil Company and say to them We
same oils as the Vsenum-and we have their old super
intendent. Mr. Miller 10 manufacture the OILS T. A.
Might have said 1t in substance.
Mr. Matthews admitted that he wrote the following let
ter TO Hiram Everest regarding Of the patents which
be now claims to be worthless while employed by the
Vacuum, in lSSO
Last week | saw Mr. Rogers and C. Browne. and the
Coter examined under oath by the attorneys both
Sides and should he testify that the Standard on Com
pany has not in any manner agreed TO protect him
against damage in consequence OF past infringe
OF patent then the attorneys are 10 take tne
10 each other ami them II the court Is willing TO proceed,
the will lie tried upon It's merits
Mr. Matthews said that he first began study OF the
different kinds OF crude oil in 1881, when he
began the manufacture OF oil The first suit
against the Vacuum Company was in 1883,
and the suit for S250,000 was begun in the
spring OF 1885 twice had the defendants indicted for
conspiracy These suits tho defepce will claim indicate
as much conspiracy as do the Nacuums SUITS against
him. To show this. Matthews S next examined Legard-
Ing statements he is alleged 70 nave made 70 dinerent
people lie said he knew William o. Allison OF the Cot,
ton OH Trust stock and publisher % OF , aas Va pan ana
him here at the Mansion House. he thought
these occasions there was conversation as 10 the
terms on which all this litigation could be settled asked
Lawyer Bacon. -, ,,.., ,,A,,u
Guilty with the Buffalo Company could DO settled for
so sir short time afterward he saw Mr. Allison in
the Globe Hotel In Syracuse MT. Matthews thought ne
Vas the Conservation about settling this dnlcultyi"
was sit not suggested by him that 100000
cessiye price"
"Dd you not say that s25o.ooo wouldse acccptedi'
1--WE talked about selling the property
"You say settomeut OF the litigation was sub
~ am not snre whether It was mentioned by me-"
"Dd he not say 1t rather high price Tor the prop
ertyi"
did vdn not remark that it might DO bought for
"somehing OF that sort was said"
lie did reoolect telling Allison
that he could communicate this price to
the NevYork parties several conversations were had
with Allison at the laters home at Englewood, and
s he istor House Asked II this price was TO settle tho
6 Sa1e oea SO The was discussed
and then no thought this could not be done He did not
tak about getting Miller out OF the way, nor was the
money TO be paid secretly He denied making oyertures
become the secret agent In Buffalo OF the standard on
company to which would turn his outside trade
The property cost $4,000 The reason that the price
was excessive because big bills were due the law
yers. - - , ,,,,,., 1909 an, ,a.hoos
asked him TO mako IA proposition. The value or the
works placed at 5000 $4,000 but the price
gotatod with j. 4 r. ADudley to sell out to
the STANDARD, but claimed that Dudley
made the proposition. He denied telling Benjamin
Rre aud j. A Bostwick I'm New York. In 1882, that
he would Sell out 10 the Standard for 100000 All these
witnesses will be by the defence 10 prove that Mr
Matthews tried 10 sell out
The next wituess was Colonel John Byrne, who EN-
ployed Lane Burrell an employe or the Buffalo Com
pany detective IL was not done at tue suggeston
Of the def RepOrts made 10